Chief Coach Karim Bencharifa met the Press here at New Delhi today. Captain Bhaichung Bhutia was with him. When asked about the opponent, Karim mentioned that Mahindra United is a very good side. There are very good players and he along with the team members respects the opponent. Karim also mentioned that the team was pretty upset after the 1-1 draw against JCT. He felt the team should be do their best and secure 3 points against Mahindra rather than waiting for Churchill – Mohammedan Sporting outcome! Regarding the reserve bench – he said he will not repent for what he has got and he feels team Mohun Bagan will play much better in the return leg of AFC.

Captain Bhaichung Bhutia was also in a light mood. When asked about the prospect of winning the i-League, Bhaichung wished that team Mohun Bagan will secure 3 vital points and hope Churchill will miss 2 or 3 points!!!

When asked about the best match in the season, he mentioned that after Bagan was at the bottom of the table with 7 points from 5 matches, team Mohun Bagan had a dream run to secure 30 points from 10 matches- and that was the best performance in the season.

Team Mohun Bagan practiced in the Ambedkar Stadium from 3 pm for an hour. The probable team is Sangram, Deepak, Vasan, Odafe, Habibur, Ishfaq, Rahul, James, Mama, Barreto, Bhaichung.

Mohun Bagan club celebrated the traditional Bar Pujo yesterday on Bengali New Year’s Day.  The entire club lawn was well decorated with flowers.  The air was filled with soft shehanai music and atmosphere was festive yet cultured. The Bar Pujo took place at both ends of the football field amidst chanting of the holy mantra and putting of vermilion on the bar posts with the officials and fans were treated to refreshments.

 

                          

  PICTURE: TRIDIP SHEET

Mohun Bagan continued to chase Churchill Brothers for the I-league title , after N. S Manju showed his brilliance and converted a Barreto chip to a goal 3 seconds before the final whistle. Barreto scored the first goal as Marcos gave a brilliant pass for Barreto in the right side of the box – and Barreto placed it really well – gem of a goal. This happned in the 28th minute. Ranty scored the only goal for Dempo at the 55th minute.

Later Bhaichung scored in the 33rd minute but referee canceled the goal – not sure if he was under pressure from outside the ground!!!

But the scoreline could have been 3-0 at the first half , but Referee Rizwan-ul-Haq played really well for Dempo. He first stopped Bagan from scoring a goal at the 23rd minute, and then cancelled a clear goal scored by Bhaichung. Later in the second half he overuled a demand for penalty when Bhaichung was pulled down by Samir Naik.

In one occassion he perhaps thought of showing marching order to Mahesh – whose only work was to hit Bhaichung – but Dempo players created pressure on him. Bagan got few more chances to increase the lead – Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mandal really played well and stopped Bagan from scoring more goals. The whole 1st XI played well for Bagan and Sangram was really good under the bars. He saved two long shots – one from Beto and the other from Ranty.

Both the side backs were going up and creating pressure on Dempo defense – Ishfaq, Lalkamal took load as well. Though he had taken two poor free kicks but overall Marcos led the midfield very well. James was seen playing up and down.

Bhaichung was brilliant – had his goal not been cancelled and his due penalty given, even he could have been a contender of the Man of the Match award. Also in first half he made a brilliant attempt when his side volley missed by whisker.

Barreto was awarded Man of the Match and he proved the Bengali proverb "sit grisMo borsha – Barreto-i Vorsha" (whether its winter, summer or rainy season – Barreto is the saviour) so true.

But the bad news is that Bagan will not have N. S. Manju, Rakesh Masih, Marcos Perreira and Lalkamal Bhowmik for the Mahindra match. Manju and Masih were booked for taking off their jerseys after the last goal of the match. The same referee who was so particular about showing card for taking off jersey did not show cards to Dempo players for hitting at Mariners, particularly Mahesh Gawli.

In the last round match, Mohun Bagan will face Mahindra United in Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi while Churchill will host Mohammedan Sporting in Goa. Mohun Bagan will have to win the last match and hope that Mohammedan manage to hold Churchill, in that case Mohun Bagan will become champions, but if Churchill gets 3 points from the last match, they will get the title for the first time irrespective of result of Mohun Bagan match. All the final round matches will be played on April 16th.

TEAM: Sangram, Dipak, Manju, Odafe, Habibur, Ishfaq, Marcos, Lalkamal (Masih 71′), James Singh Sr. (Branco 69′), Bhaichung, Barreto.

REACTION OF BARRETO AND MANJU AFTER SCORING THE GOALS (COURTESY GANASHAKTI)

We had a short interview of our "magician" coach Karim after the match.</p><p>

Question: Congrats for winning today’s match.

Karim: Thank you very much.

Question: Do you think Mohun Bagan will be able to win I league?

Karim: Let us hope so. We will have to win our last match and  hope something positive happen for us in the other match in Goa.

Question: What were your thoughts on bringing on Rakesh in place of Lalkamal?

Karim: Well, firstly I wanted to bring in a fresh leg. Also I wanted to use his strength in dead ball situation inside opponent penalty box. He was involved in the winning goal, he gave the long ball towards Barreto.

Question: You made a few strategical changes in 2nd half.

Karim: In first half we played 4-4-2. When we brought in Branco we switched over to 4-3-3, with Barreto, Bhaichung and Branco being forward and Marcos being the holding midfielder and Ishfaq and Rakesh in the flanks, but then I saw a huge gap was forming between Bhaichung and Marcos, so I used Diamond system for last 10 minutes or so which is 4-3-1-2 bringing Barreto down a little bit to form a bridge between forward and midfield. In injury time, I asked Manju to go up and try to flick the ball for Branco and Bhaichung and also go for header in the box during setpiece and other movements. At that time, we played with three defenders.

Question: You will miss 4 players in next match. Have you thought about whom to use in midfield in place of Rakesh, Lalkamal and Marcos?

Karim: I have been thinking about few options but would not like to disclose that now.

Question: Do you want to make any comment on Barreto.

Karim: What can I say about him? Barreto is Barreto. I am very lucky to have such a player in my team. He is a great player. All the other players are also very good in my team.

Question: Congrats once again for the win and best of luck for Mahindra match.

Karim: Thanks a lot.

            

 PICTURE COURTESY: TIMES OF INDIA

Mohun Bagan will play against Dempo in their penultimate match of I league 2008-09 on Sunday, April 12, 2009. The match will be held in Barasat stadium from 6.30 pm. This is a must win match for Mariners. Mohun Bagan now has 40 points from 20 matches and currenly in 2nd position in league table. Churchill is leading with 43 matches from 21 matches while Sporting de Goa is at 40 points from 21 matches.

Yesterday Mohun Bagan had their practice session in the morning from 8.30 a.m. Few senior players like Barreto, Bhaichung, Sangram, Manju, Ishfaq, Marcos, Dipak and Odafe had a rest day; however, today morning at same time, there will be practice session for full team. Mohun Bagan had so far played twice against Dempo this year, once in I league and the next time in Federation Cup final, both times Mohun Bagan won 1-0, Barreto scored in both matches. Barreto who played last match of AFC cup with fever is expected to be fully fit before Dempo match and Manju might also play the match.

So far this year Mohun Bagan has won Kolkata league and Federation Cup. In I league they still have a chance to win the tournament but in AFC Cup Mariners failed to win any match so far. Unluckily, Mohun Bagan’s group is the toughest group of this year’s edition of AFC Cup and team fought valiantly but lost the three matches 1-0, 2-1 and 1-0. In case of Dempo, they definitely had a great AFC Cup so far and last year also they reached semi finals but their domestic season has been poor, in Goa league they are now in 3rd position 11 points behind league leaders Churchill, could not win Federation Cup and in I league they are in 4th place 13 points behind Churchills.

Mohun Bagan will play their final round match of I league in Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi against Mahindra United on April 16th. Meanwhile, the last two round matches of Mohun Bagan in AFC Cup has been rescheduled, now they will play their away match on 5th May and home match on 19th May. The Super Cup match of Mohun Bagan will be on 26th April in Gurgaon.

                              

PICTURE: SOUMYADEB SINHA